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Jan. 27, 1931.

D. HARDING CHEEKING MACHINE 8 Sixes Filed Aug. 31, 1928 Jan. 27, 1931. v p. E. HARDING ,790,

CHEEKING MACHINE Filed Aug. 31/1923 {a a shuts-shed 2" 70 I Y I (174 73 65 'IIII'I'IIIIIIIIIII'M VIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII Jan. 27, 1931. w D. E. HA DING 1,790,619

CHEEKING MACHINE Filed Aug. 31. 1928 Y 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 1%7verafor diiorwey Jan. 27, 1931. HARDlNG 1,790,619 A CHEEKING MAUI-[VINE Filed Au 51, 1928 I a Sheets-Sheet 5 I ilflf Jan. 27, 1931. D. E. HARDING CHEEKING MACHINE Filed Aug. 31. 1928' 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 wvqwfow mfiii I J D. E. HARDING 1,790,619

CHEEKING MACHINE Filed Aug. 31, 1928 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 D. E. HARDING CHEEKING MACHINE Jan. 27, 1931.

Filed Aug 51, 1928 a Sheets$heet 8 Ifivewior QM C5.

4? A aw 7 7768 DANA s. HARDING, or MnLnosn, ianssaonusn rms, ASSIGNOR to HARDINI-G- ENGI- NEERING CQIVIPAN'Y, OF EAST BOSTON, IIIASSACHUSETTS, CORPORATION OF MAS- SACHUSETTS CIIEEKING MACHINE Application filed Ahgust 31, 1928. Serial No. 303,360.

lily present inventionrelates tothe manufacture of leather froin hides or skins, and more particularly to an improved apparatus for renioviirg surplus material 1 om the checks or butts of such hides or skins.

An important step in the manufacture of leather from hides and skins is the opt tioii of removing superfluous flesh. and a portion of the hide or skin from the cheeks or other portions of he hide where the Hid [Q rial is naturally thicker than at other-portions. din cult is it to perform this operation satisfactorily that in a great many tau- :icries the cheekcd portions are cut off and go into the scrap pile. As each portion cut of. reduces the superficial area of the result i ng leather, various machines have been dc vised for savii g such cheeltcd portions if possible. and none of them; far as I am aware 20 have been successfiil. i 's the cost of leather continually 'niounting'. the production of scrap from What should he inerchan'table leather is an economic Waste that all tanneries are striving to eliminate,

In my present invention I have devised an improved machine for skiving off superfluous flesh and hide from the cheek orother portions of such hide, and'such Work is performed mechanically and Withthe resulting increase in the inerchantahle leather produced.

l-leretofore it has lieen attempted to perform this checking operation manually, tiat is. the operator has been obliged to hold the hide or skin against'the tension exerted the're' on by the skiving knife or cutter and the work has been so laborious that where the process is continued, the operators cannot Work butfor a few hours a day and are soon incapacitated for further Work and the disabling of the operators has been so pronounced that in'the majority of tanner'es at the present day. such manual checking of hides or skins has been dispensed with even though it isrealized that the operation is an exceedingly important one from an economic standpoint.

In carrying out my invention; I provide a holding; device which positively holds 2. hide or skin at a plurality of points simultaneously and mechanically opposes theteir si'oii of the cutting knife or shiver and in actual practice, an operator may run the inachine without undue fatigue 'coiitinuousl'y' for the usual Working period day in and day out.

The object of my inventionQtherefote, is an improved ch zlngi machine for checkingfhidesor Skins. 7

I In the a'c'con'ipa'nyin'g drawings illustrata preferred einhodinient of my inventioii,

Fig. 1 is a front elevation;

Fig. 2 is an'endelevatioi'i;

Fig. 3i's' an enlarged end elevation of a V ional views showing the in'eclianisni'in the upper part of Fig. at and each in a differei'it position of ope'i":i tion;

Fig. lO is an enlarged sectional View of ti'K" clamping apparatus;

Fig-11' is an ei'ilargred view ofthe upper left-hand portion of Fig. 1 withcert'ain parts brolzen away for clearness of illustration:

Fig. 12 a sectional vie/V on the line 1212 of'Figi'. l;'

Fig. 3 is afsectio'n on the line 1'3-13of Figlfl; 7

fig. 14 is a detail View p'ar tly 'in section oi one of the removing roll'operating arms; 7 Fig. 15 is a section on the line 15-15 of Fig.

Fig. 16 is an elevation of the end of the clamping arin Fig. 17 is a detailshoiving the arrangen'icut of the fanningout device;

and r i Fig. 19 is a side elevation of Fig-1T. Referring to the drawings, 10 and ll'de'signate side frame members arranged parallel "with and spaced apart from each other and held in rigid and spaced relatimrbycross Fig. 18 a partial plain view of Big; 11',

for clearu'essof illusfrom a suitable source of power.

' mental member member by bolts is'a member 16, while secured to the top of the end frame member 11 by-b' ol'ts 17 is a member 18. The memhers-16 and 18 are arranged parallel to each other and in each'of said members is formed a hearing or bearings, being in alinement witl each other and rotatably mounted in said bearings is a shaft 19. Secured to the outer face of the frame member 11 by bolts 20 is an outboard bearing member 21, in whichis formed a bearing 22 in alinement with the bearings above referred to as being in the members 16 and 18 and such bearing 22 sup ports the outer end of the shaft 19.. Formed 1n the end frame members 10 and 11 are bearings that are in alinement with each other and in alinement also with a bearing 23 formed in the outboard bearing member 21, and in such bearings is rotatably mounted a power shaft 24, and on such power shaft is fixed a tight pulley 25 and a loose pulley 26,

and over which pulleys may run a belt leading Slidably mounted in the outboard frame 21 is a belt shifting device 27 and by means of which the belt referred to may be shifted from the V loose pulley 26 onto the tight pulley 25. Secured to a boss 28 formed on the outboard bearing bracket 21 is a stub shaft 29. .llotatably mounted on the stub shaft 29 is gear and pinion 31, such gear and pinion being secured together so as to rotate as a unit. The gear meshes with and is driven by a pinion 32 secured to the power shaft The inion 31 meshes with and drives a ear 33 formed on a clutch hub 34 that is rotatabiy mounted on the shaft 19. ltotatable with but slidable on the shaft 19 and associated with the clutch hub 34 is a clutch sleeve and further description and operation of the clutch mechanism will be made hereinafter. t is suilicient to say that the shaft 12) may be rotated at will from the shaft by means of the clutch members 34 and 85. tired to the shaft 19 between the members lband 18 is a segmental member 36 provided with a radially extending face plate 8?, on which is secured corrugated member 38, the corrugations extending parallel to the shaft 19. Also formed on the corrugated member 38 is an apron 39 which extends over and protects the shaft 19, as will be clearly seen from an inspection of Fig. 4 or (3. 1 Secured to the shaft 19 and at either end ofthe segis a member 40, each of these members being drilled at their ends to receive shafts 41, the shafts 41 being in alinement with each other. Pivotally mounted on each of the shafts 41 is a link 42, each of such links being provided. with a literally projecting member 43, drilled to receive as a sliding fit the upper threaded end ofra bolt 44, such bolt being adjustably secured to the member 40 by nut 45. Threaded on the end of the bolt 44 is a nut 46 and by means of which the amount of movement of the links 42 about the shafts 41 may be adjusted. Fivotally attached to the other end of of each of the links 42 on pivot shaft.

' Fig. 1.6, and referring to Fig. 16, it will be noted that the link 49 has a cylindrical projection thereon and on which is slidably mounted a boss he outer end of the cylindrical member 58 is threaded to receive an adjusting nut and between the adjusting nut 55 and the boss 54 on the cylindrical member 53 is a helical spring 56. It will be obvious, therefore, that the boss 54 is yieldin gly mounted on the member 49. Laterally extending from the boss 54 isa cylindrical shaft on which is pivotally mounted the link 48. The cylindrical shaft 57 extends laterally beyond the link 48 and inwardly of the machine. ris there are two sets of links 48 and 49, and, therefore, two cylindrical shafts 57, it is arranged that such shafts 57 are in alinement with each other and on such sh is pivotally mounted a clamp bar 58, such clamp bar being provided on its lower end or its lower edge 59 with corrugations that eo-operate with the corrugations in the member 88 that is attached to the segment 86. The clamp bar 58 is, therefore, yiel'dingly heldin position and the tension which such clamp bar 58 exeris on the hides or shins 5%, when the same are in position on the segment 36, may be adjusted by means of the adjusting nuts Mounted on the side frame men'ibers 10 and 11 and secured there to by bolts60, are frames 61 and 52 respectively, and on the opposing facesof the frames 61 and 62 are secured cam members 63 and with which cams the cam rollers 52 on the bell crank levers 50 engage, as will be hereinafter described. On the frames :31 and 62 are formed extensions (34 and-i5 respectively and in each of these extensionsis mounted a chine. On each of the members 69 is secured a piston 71 which works in the cylinder 72 secured to the extensions 6% and and 111 such cylinders is arranged spring 73 and which tends to rotate the release lever 6'? about the stub shaft 66, but which will allow limited clockwise direction of such lever. In thenormalor inoperative position of the device, the links l8 and 49, as well as the bell cranlclever 50, occupy the position shown in Fig. i and with the clamp bar 58 in the position shown therein, this mechanism being held in inoperative position by the latchestS on the release lever 61'' engaging with the clamp barbS. The hills 4%, 4-9 and bell crank lever 50,' together with t 1c links l2,

constitute a clamping mechanisnn the function and opermion of which will be hereinafter described. it is to be noted, however that the weight of the clamp bar is suiticient, when such clamp bar is released by depressing the knob 70, to throw the clamping mechanism 4&8 d9, 50, and s2 from the position shown in Figs. 4 and (3, to the position shown in Fig. 7, where it will be seen that the corrugations on the portion of the clamp bar 58 has moved into operative relation with the corrugations on the member 36 carried by the segment 36 thus clamping a hide or skin in position tobe operated upon; In each of the extensions 3 i and ($5 is secured a shaft T l, which e tends parallel to the shaft 19 above described, and on such shaft adjacent to each of tne extensions (7% and 65 is pivotally mounted a member 75,

i and such members 75am joined together at their free ends by a transverse member 70, such member 76 being provided interme diate its ends and on the top edge thereof with a handle 7?. Secured to the extensions 6% and 65 by bolts "('8 is a cross bar or brace 79. The cross bar ormember 79 is provided with a lateral extension 80, through which passes a threaded member 81 which screws into the cross bar' 79 and holds the frame structure, composed of the members 75 and 70, against rotary movement on the shaft 74-, but which may be rear v placed in condition for rotary movement by backing olf the member 8i and swinging the same on'its pivot away from the element S0. livotally mounted on the shaft 'Z land parallelly arranged with respect to each other are rearwardly and downwardly extending arms 82. The lower-ends of such arms 82 extend downwardlv and forwardly,-as shown in Fig. and at their lower ends are provided with lateral extensions 83 and a pivot shaft 84. 'lhrough each of t e lateral extensions 83 is threaded an adjusting screw 85, while pivotally mounted on the pivot shaft 84 is a :l'anning out element So, the outer surface of which is provided with plurality of parallelly arranged corrugations-8'? and the inner face is adapted tobe engaged by the adjustingscrews 85u1bore referred to.

Referring to Fig. 17, it benoted that if the dot and dash line designated by 88, represents the medial line of the machine or the line correspondingto 44 of Fig; 1, that the corrugations 87 on the left side of suclr dot and dash line 88, make'an angle with the line 88 in a certain direction,- whilethe corrugations 87 on the members 86 to the right of the line 88 also make an angle with the line 88 but in the opposite direction. I members 86 are adapted to engage with the segment 36 with the corrugations thereon ST in actual engagement with the hide orsli'in 59a carried by such seg'mentSfi and the arrangement of corrugations 87 is such that the hide or skin 5964 will be fanned'out from a center line just prior to the engagement with the hide of a cutting device to be hereinafter described. To each of the arms 82 is pivotally' attached a rod 89, such rod being threaded at its end and with the threaded end passing through a-perforation in the cross n'iem'ber' 76, such threaded end being provid'ed withadjusting nuts 90. Between the innerface of the cross members 76, and the lower end of the rods 89 is a co'ilsp'ri'ng 91 and which-urges the arms 82 about the shaft 7% in a counter-clockwise direction to force the members 86 into engagen'ient with the hides or skins 59a that may be on the sag-u;

ment 36and the tension of the'spring 91 is adjusted by means of the adj ustingn'uts 90.

@n eachof the side frame members 10 and His formed bearings 92 and 93 respectively v and secured in such bearings isa shaftQlf Rotatably 'mountedon the shaft'94'i's asframe 95. Secured'to the upper surface of the end frame members 10 and 11 by bolts 96 and extending between such end frame members is a cross bar 97. Formedon the cross bar 97 are bearings 98 and in these-bearings 98 is rotatably mounted a shaft 99 provided with an eccentric 100. Associated'with the eccentrio 100 is a'split bearing 101 formiug virtu-V ally an eccentric strap and this split bearing is slidably moun't'edin a slideway 102 formed in the frame .95; shaft 99x2; an arm 103'and by'means of which The Secured to one endof the fee the shaft 99 may be rotated and, therefore;

the upper end of the frame 95 mov'esinward oi outward towardor from the segment 36, l

as will be clearly obvious'from an inspection of Fig. 4; Secured to the outer face of the end framemen'iber 10 by bolts 104is a graduated disc 105'and with which an indicator 106 on the arm 103 co-o'perates to determine the amount of inward or outward 1110Vl3111e11t oftheframe 95 with respect to the segment 36. Secured to the upper face of the frame 95 so as to lie parallel to thesegment 36' is a mounted by means of the boltsl08andg Formed on the same member as the graouated disc is a member 109 drilled to receive as a sliding fit a plunger 110, which plunger has a reduced portion 111 which extends downwardly through a perforation 1n the member 109. The lower end of the reduced portion 111 is threaded to recc-J've 10 adjusting nuts 112 which are, therefore,

' located outside of the member 109. l fithin the member 109 and surrounding the reduced portion 111 is a coil spring 113 which tends to force the plunger upwardly, as viewed for example in Fig. 2,-and the tension of the spring'1'13 is regulated by the adjusting nuts 112. Pivotally attached on a shaft 11 1 in the member 109 is a latch lever 109a, one end 115 of which is provided with a laterally extending shaft 116 which extends into a hole 117 bored in the member 109 between the bottom of the hole 117 and the outer end of the transverse shaft 116 is a spring 118 which urges the shaft 116 outwardly, as viewed in Fig. 2, and tends to rotate the latch lever about the shaft 1141in a counter-clocki ise. di rection. The other end 119 of the latch lever has formed thereon a latch 120 which is arranged above the upper end of the plunger 1.10 and spaced apart therefrom. Secured to the outer end of the shaft 19 adjacent to the end frame member 10 is a member121 slotted, indicated at 122, and extending across such slot is a shaft 123. Rotatably mounted on the shaft 123 in ie slot 22 is a latch 124;, the outer end of which engages w th both the latch 120 and the upper end of the plimger110. On this latch 120 is formed an arcuate cam member 125 which lies in the path of movement of a roller 126 mountedon one arm of a bell'crank lever 127 that is rotatably mounted on a shaft 128 secured to the frame in (a roller 129 .which lies in the path of movementofa lug 130 carried by the lever 18 adjacent to the end frame member 1.0. Yielding means (not shown) is provided for the purpose of rotating the latch lever 12 1 back into its initial position after the cam surface 125 thereon has been disengaged by the roller 126. Cu the innerface ofthe ever 1-8 adjacent theend frame member 11, is a lug 131 which is adapted to engage in the downward movement of such lever 18 with the end portion 132 of an arm pivotally mounted on the shaft 134 secured to the side frame memher 11. The arm 133' is perforated adjacent the shaft 13 1 with a vertical 'hole throu 'h which passes the lower threaded end of a lever 135, such lower threaded end being provided with adjusting nuts 136 and with coil spring 137 which lies between the adjusting nuts 136 and the lever 135, this connection providing" a yielding connection between the arm 133 andthe lever 135. The upper end of the lever is pivotally attachedto one arm of hell crank lever 138, vhich is rotatably mounted on a shaft 189 secured to; lugs 1 10 formed on the frame member 62. The other arm of the bell crank lever 138 is forked to partially encircle a portion of the sleeve 139 on which is formed one of the clutch pivoted arm downward and causing a rotative movement thereof, together with the shaft 134;, in a clockwise direction, this movement causing a downi'vard movement of the lever 135, thus rotating 'the'bell crank lever 13S alzout the shaft 139 and causing a sliding i'novenient of the sleeve 139 on the shaft 19, thus bringing the clutch member 35 into engagement with the clutch member 3% on the hub of the gear Secured to one end of the shaft 131 is a member 142 which has formed integral therewith an arcuate arm 111.3 and a'radially extending arm 11 1, as cl arty sho we in Figs. 11 and 12. Formed on the sleeve 139 is a cam 145 with which the radially extending arm 1 1-1is adapted to enga e, and

also formed on the sleeve 139 is a cam 146,

with which the arcuate arm 1 13 is adapted to engage. W hen the shaft 134 is'rotated b the arm .133 in the direction of the arrow shown in Figs. 5 and 12, the outer end of the arm 143 is moved downwardly out of en gagement of the cam 14:6 and the arm 141 1 is moved into position to en age with the cam 1 1". The removal of the outer end of the arn 1 13 from the cam 1416 takes place sin'uiltaney with the movement to the left of the foi zed arm of the bell crank lever 13?? to thus bring the clutching members-3e; and 35 into engagement with each other. As the lug 131 on the lever 138 engages the portion 132 of. the arm 133, there is immediately a rotative movement of the shaft 131 and innnediately thereafter-the connecting together of the clutching elements 3 1 and 35. This a rotative movementofthe shaft 19 which carries the lug 13 1 off the portion 132 of the arm 133,111.1(1 beyond such arm. As the shaft 19 rotates the cam 1 15 thereon, engaging with the out-er end of the radially extending arm 1 141, rotates the shaft 1341 and the outer end of the arm 1 13 engaging with the cam will force the sleeve 139 to the right, as shown in Fig. 11, so that when the shaft 19 has completed a ingle full revolution, the clutching members and 35 will be brought out or engagement with each other. As at this timethat is, when theshaft 19 completes position with respect to the member 121, will strike the plunger and the latch faceflQO willmove into position to lock the latch 124 in the position shown in Fig. 2 and all parts of the device are again brought to rest.

Attached to the side frame members and extending therebetween, adjacent the front of the machine, is an apron 14. while adjacent the upper end of the frame 95 is an apron 148. 8

Rotatably mounted in the end frame members 10 and 11 andarranged parallel to the power shaft 24 is a shaft 149, on which is secured an elongated, preferably rubber, removing roll 150. Secured to said shaft 149 adja-.

cent the end frame member 11, is a gear151 which meshes with andis driven by a gear 152 rotatably mounted on a shaft 153 rotatably mounted 1n the end frame members. The

shaft 153 meshes with'and is driven by a gear 154 which is rotatably mounted on a shaft 155 rotatably mounted intheend frame members 11. The gear 154 meshes with a pinion 156 rotatably mounted on a stub shaft 157 secured to the end frame member 11. The pinion 156 meshes with and is driven by a gear 158secured to the power shaft-24. Thetrainofgears above described rotates the shaft 149 and, therefore, the rubber removing roll moves in the direction of the arrow shown in Fig- 5.

8n the inner face of each of the end frame members 10 and 11 are arranged stub shafts 159 and on each of these stub shafts is rotatably mounted a roll 160. The stub shafts 159 are arranged on the circumference of a circle of which the shaft is the center and on each pair of rolls 160 is mounted an arcuate slotted member 161, which, therefore, is movable in acirc-un'1ference. of which the shaft 55 is the center. Extending between the arcuate members 161 and rotatably mounted therein I bored portion 177 of the rearwardly extend also is secured a removing roll, preferably of rubber. 164. On each end of the shaft 162 is provided a sleeve 165 and engaging with each sleeve 165 is an arm 166, as clearly shown in Fig. The arms 1-66 extend it'orwardly of the marhiumas viewed in Fig. 4, and by reference to F 14, it will be seen that each arm 166 is counterborcd at167and slotted at 168, while the outer end of the counterbored portion is threaded as indicated at 169 and provided with the clamping means indicated by the numeral 170i Extending into and through the counterbored' portion 167 is a threaded member 171, having as an integral part thereof a further extending threaded. member 172 which extendsinto the slot 168-1 and'is'prorided therein with aa1ut173. Slidably mounted on the meinber171 is an externall-y-threaded sleeve 174 which screws into the threaded'portion 1690f the arm 166, and threaded on the portion 171 is an adjusting nut 1 75. Between theadjusting nut 175 and thethrea-ded sleeve;174 is a coil spring 176 which continually urges the member 177 into the counterbored portion 167, or to the left as Viewed in Fig. 14. Formed ,oirthe outer end of the member 171 is a boss 177 provided with a transversely arranged hole 178 therein.

totatabiy mountedin the end framemembers 10 and '11 and parallel to the power shaft 24 is a camshaft 139 and at e'ach'end of such cam shaftare secured two, cams, 180 and 181 respectilvely. There are thus four cams on the cam shaft 179, two of such cams, one at each end, being similarly placed and also the other two cams, one at each end, While differently placed with respect to the first pair, are similarlvplaced with respect to each other, for a purpose'to be hereinafter described. Secured: to the cam shaft179 is la pinion 182 which meshes with and is driven a gear 183' se cured to the power shaft 24. Secured to each of r the end frame memberslO and 11 in alinement with each other and parallel to the cam shaft 179, are stub shafts 184 and on each of such shafts is rotatably mounted a bell crank lever provided with a long arm 185and' a short arm 186. .Rotatablymounted in the end ofthe short arm 186 of'each of the bell crank levers is acam roller 187 which engages with a cam 181 on the. cam shaft 179. Intermediateithe ends of the long arm 185 is rotatably mounted a cam roll 188 whichengages'wit-h the cam 180 on the cam shaft 179. The lower end of each of the long arms '185 of the bell c 'a11lr,lever.is forked, as clearly shown in Fig. 1, and in each of sucl'rforked ends is mounted a shaft 189, which shaft 189 passes through the' hole 178 in the end 177 of the member 171 above described as being yicldably mounted in the countera movementof the removingroll l64gtoward" and from the removing roll 150, and because i of the spring 176 in the arms 166, the roll 1164 is yioldingly held in. engagement with the removing roll 150, or should there be at this particular instant a piece ofhide or 111590 between such-remoi-ing rollers, tension will be exerted on the hide or sk n 59a. The gear between the power shaft 24 and the cam shaft;

179 is so arranged'and the ca1i1s180and181 i are so timed asto cause a movement of the removing roll 164' toward and into engage mentwith theremovingroll 150, aft-er the cheekin yoperation has been performed on such hide or skin59a by the cutter 107 V 68 into engaging position. as .SJOWll in Fig. at. On the under side of the cross bars 12 and As has been above described, the releasing of the clamp bar 58 causes 'a rotative movement of the levers l8 and 49 and associated links about their pivot points so as to bring the roll 52 into the position shown, for 6X-" ample, in 4. That is, such roll will be below the point 190 of the cams 63. The lever l8, l9, bell crank lever 50, and link 42, act as a clamping device which is locked when the shaft- 19 rotates in the direction of the arrow shown in Figs. 4 and 6, 7, 8 and 9, for example, thus holding the corrugated portion 59 of the clamping bar in close association with the corrugated member 38 on the face 37 of the segment 36, thus holding the hide or skin 5% firmly in position. As the segment 36 rotates when the clutching members 3st and 35 engage each other a complete revolution, mechanismhasbeen provided for releasing the clamping device above described-and force ing the clamping bar 58 out of engagement with the segment 36. Such mechanismis as follows.

(in theimier' face of each of the frame mem-,

bers 16 anl 18 is arranged a cam plate 192. On each of the levers 48 is arranged a lug 193. The cams 192 and lugs 1.9.3 are adapted to engage with each other during the rotative movement of the segn'ient 36and parts carried thereby and it will be obvious from an inspectionof Fig. Sthat such cam and lug are in engagement with ea ch other, thus forciug the lever 48 about its pivot point 17 and lifting the bar 58 away from the segment 36. As thesegment 36 approaches its initial position, as shown for example in Fig. 4, the clamp bar 58 will engage with the latches 68, forcingthe latch lever 67 about their pivot shaft 66 and when the bar 58 has ridden by the latch 68 the spring 7 3 willforce the latches 13 and adjacent to one end thereof are socured. by bolts 195, bearing members 196,

vertically arranged shaft 200 is a bevel gear 203 which meshes with and is driven by a bevel pnuon "204- secured to the power shaft On the shaft 197 is secured a flanged drum or pulley 2050f any suitable dimensions.v Sccured to the outer face of the end ber 10 by bolts 206 are laterally extending brackets .207, such brackets extending lateral ly and upwardly, as viewed in lfigi 1. Secured to the'outer lower edge of each of the brackets 20?, by bolts 208, are bearings2 09 JfdIllO Il'lBlllin alinement with each other and rotatablymounted on such bearings is a shaft 210; Secured-to the shaft 210 is a flanged drum or pulley 211 of preferably the same length. and diameter as the drum 205 and over the drums 211 and 205 runs an'endless conveyor belt 212;

The operation of my improved machine is as follows, it being assumed that the machine has been constructed as above described and with the parts resting in their inoperative or 7 in front of the machine and, therefore, possibly in front of the apron 1&7. l-laving placed the hide or skin 59a, the operator will now find it necessary to depress simultaneously the knobs 70 in order that the latches 68 may be freed from the clamping bar This a safety feature of my invention which is extremely important, as it precludesthe possibility of the operator starting the machine in motion until both of his hands are. out of any possible danger. It is assumed, of course, that the driving belt, (not shown) has been moved by the belt shifter 27 from the loose pulley onto the tight pulley'26 andthat, therefore, the power shaft 2 tis rotatinn' at the proper speed and in-th'e proper dion. Having depressed the knobs 70,'the weightof the clamping bar 08 will. cause the levers 48 and 49 to drop and the clamping bar 58 will move into the position'shown in Fig. .7, with the rolls '52 on hearm of the bell crank lever 50 to assume the position shown in such figure and inside of the point 190 of the cam 63. As the clamp bar 59 dropped, the lug 130 on one of the levers 1-8 engaged with the roller 129 on the bell c ant: lever 127, and caused the roller 126 on the other arm of such bell crank lever 127 to engage with the cam surface and rotated the latch. 12 1out of engagement with the latch face 120 of the latch lever 119. Sumiltaneously, the member 131 on the other lever 18 engaged with the portion 132 of the 211111 133, which thereupon rotated the shaft 139 to move the arm 143 out of engagement with the cam 14:6 and i'noved the arm 1 1st mtoposition to be engaged by the cam 1&5. both of these elements 146 and 145 being on the sleeve 14!) that is slidably mounted on the shaft 19. Also, the rotation of the arm 133 rotated the bell crank lever 138 about the shaft 139 and caused the pins1 l0 in the forked end of one of the arms of the bell crank lever to engage with the sidesinthe I annular groove l ll and force. the clutch member into engagement withthe clutch memi her 34. The shaft 19 is now rotating in the direction of the arrow shown in the drawings and carrying the segment 36 therewlth and me al-9' bringing the checked end ofthe hide or skin 59a into engagement with the cutter 107, and it is assumed that such cutter has beenadjustcd properly with respectto the cutter 136 and also that the fanning out devices 86 have been properly adjusted so as to fan out or smooth the hide or skin 59a ust prior to the engagement of such hide or skin with the cutter 107. As the segment started its rot-ation the roller 52 on the bell crank lever 50 passed inside of the point 190 of the cam 163 and the clamping arrangement, comprised of the levers 48 and 49, the bell crank lever 50, and link 42, remained in locked position. The mechanism associated with the segment 36 is now assumed to be in the position indicated in Fig. 8 and it will be noted that the end of the hide remote from the part being operated on has dropped vertically downward and alongside of the clamping bar 58. As the segment 36 continues its rotation, the lugs 198 on the levers 48 will engage with the cams 192 attached to the inner facesof the frame members 16 and 18 and the clamping device above referred to will be released after the hide or skin 59a has passed beyond the cutter 107 and the clamping bar 58 will be moved away from the segment 36 or into the position shown in Fig. 9. At this point in the operation, the rotation of the cam shaft 179 will, by reason of the cams 180 and 181, engaging with the rollers 187 and 188 respectively, cause a lateral movement of the movable removing roll 164 toward the stationary removing roll 150, clamping the end ofthe hide or skin 59a therebetween, as clearly shown in Fig. 9. As the rotation of the shaft 19 continues, the cam 146 will engage with the arm 143 and the sleeve 139 will be forced to the right, as shown in Fig. 11, withdrawing the clutch member 85 from engagement with the clutch member 34 and power, therefore, will be removed from the shaft 19.

parts associated with the segment 36 will be brought to rest and with the elements thereof in their normal or initial position, as indicated in Fig. Theremovinp; rolls 150 and 164 will with draw during this period the hide or skin 590 which has had the surplus or superflnous skin removed from the checked. por- 5 rangement of'p'arts withinwide limits with- As the shaft 19 approaches its full revolution, the clamp '7 bar 58 will engage with the latches 68 and out departing from the spirit ofthe invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is: v

1. In an improved checking machine, the combination'of a shaft, .an arcuate support for 'a' hide mounted thereon, a clamping device associated with said arcuate support and normally held out of engagement therewith, releasing means for said clamping device for permitting the same to move into clamping engagement with the arcuate support, a,

so I

clamping engagement with the arcuate support, a power shaft, a clutch interposed between the power shaft and the first said shaft for rotating the first said shaft 111 one d1-' rection only, operating means for said clutch controlled by the movement of the clamping bar into clamping positlon, and means associated with said clutch for disassoci'atin the same from the power shaft and the first SEUCl'Sllfifl) when said first sald shaft has rotated through a single complete revolution.

o. In an improved cheeking machine, the

combination of a shaft, an ar'cuate support for the hide mounted thereon, a hide clamping device associated therewith and normally held out of clamping position,a pair of releasing devices for said hide clamping de vice locatedlone at either end of the machine,

said releasing devices being operable i'ndependently of each otherand releasing the clamping device onlyswhen both? are op 'erat'ed, and Qmeans for rotating said shaft inone dlrect on only.

4. In an improved cheelnng machine, the

combination of a shaft, an arcuate support: for the hidemounted thereon, and rotatable therewith inone direction only,a hide clamping device associated therewith and. normally held in inoperative position, releasing mechanism associated with said. clamping device to permit it to move into clamping relae tionavith the arcuate support to grip the hide or skin therebetween, a system of levers associated with said clamping device and movable into locking. position when the clamping device is in clamping position,-and

means to maintain the system of levers :in

lockedlposit-ion during a portionof the revolution of the arcuate'supportr 5. In an-improved checking machine, the

coi'nbination of a shaft,- an arcuate support movable roll toward'and from the fixed roll for :1 hide mounted thereon and rotatable in'synchronism with the movement of the therewith in one direction only and through superfluous hide removing means. 7 a single complete revolution, a hide clamping In testimony wl'iereof, have signed my device associated therewith and normally Home to this specification. held in inoperative position, a system of'le- DANA E; HARDING. v vers associated with said clamping device and i moved into locking position when the'clamp-v ing device is in clamping relation with the 10 arcuate support to clamp a hide therebe- I tween, a cutter associated with the arcuate support for removing superfluous hide-from the cheek or other portions thereof, cams associated with the. system of levers and maintaining the system of levers in locked condia tion during the period of operative relation t 1 I of the cutter with the arcuate support.

6. In an improved checking machine, the combination of a shaft, an arcuate support go for a hide mountedvthereon and rotatable V J 7 35 therewith in one cirection only, a cutter associated with saidtarcuate supportto remove superfluous'hide from a hide orskin mounted on the arcuate support, a clamping device for zy'clamping the hide on the arcuate support, I V 99 7 means for maintaining said clamping device normally out of engagement with the arcuate support, said means comprising a pair of elements movable independently and necessa 3o rily movable simultaneously in order to re 7 l v v lease the clamping device and permit'it to move into clamping position, and means controlled by the clamping device in its in vement to a clamping position for initiating ro- :55 tary movement of the shaft and arcuate' sup 100 port. I

7. Inan improved checking mach I the combination of a shaft, an arcuate support for'a hide mounted thereon and rotatable V 4O therewith in one direction only, a clamping" 1 a v v 1G5 device associated with'the arcuate support, a cutter associated with said arcuate support and h' le removing rollers operatingin synchronisin 'with the rotary morement oi? the i arcuate support to remove from such arcuate j j 7 supports hide that has'beeu operated-upon. 1 f

8. In an improved chceking machine, the combination of ashatt, an rcuatc support mounted thereon and rotatable therewith in one direction only, a clamping"device for V r I clamping a hide on the arcuatesupper-ha cuttor, means for maiutuii'iing the clamping device in clamped position during the engugeinent of at hide or skin with the cutter. and

5 means comprising a pair of rolls for positively removing the operated u hide from the arcuate support. 1 p

9. In an'improved cheeking machine, the

ncombinationof means for removing super- 'fluous hide from the cheeked or other por- V d v I l y Y i ti'onof a hide, and a removing device courprising a roll rotata oly mounted in fixed bearings, a roll rotatably mounted in movable bearings, said bearings being movable about a fixed center, and means-tor moving said 

